This Paintbrush is
quite common in the Four Corners area, and is, according to Utah flora
expert, Stanley Welsh, "the most common and widespread of the Castilleja
species in Utah." It occurs in dry areas of Sagebrush and grasses (as pictured at left),
in Pinyon/Juniper, in Ponderosa Pines, and in more moist Aspen/Conifer
habitats (as above and in the next photograph).

Castilleja linariifolia is distinguished
from other Paintbrush especially by its habitat at usually lower elevations and by its very narrow leaves (usually
entire, but occasionally lobed on upper leaves). Several other characteristics assist -- but are not as consistent: The plant is commonly over two feet tall and
even up
to four feet tall and it is often branched, as shown in the photograph at left -- but notice the unbranched plant in the next photograph.

George Bentham
(1800-1884) named this plant in 1846 from a specimen collected in 1842
by John Fremont in present day eastern Wyoming.

The calyx
of Castilleja linariifolia is mostly to completely red and it is cut more deeply on one side than on the other -- not easy to see in the photograph. The bracts
of Castilleja linariifolia are mostly green, not the vibrant colors of most other Castilleja bracts.

Species present in state and nativeSpecies present in state and exoticSpecies not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rareSpecies present and rareSpecies extirpated (historic)Species extinctSpecies noxiousSpecies exotic and presentNative species, but adventive in stateEradicatedQuestionable presence